OK, now I’ve got your attention, let’s continue with the less exciting pics. Although I promise I’ll save a couple more for the end of the report in order to keep you reading!
The models on the Gaz stand were fully clothed, but then the Maxus didn’t need any sort of gimmicks to get the cameras flashing. All four examples on the Gaz stand attracted plenty of attention, especially this right-hand drive Royal Mail version.
Gaz will sell the Maxus alongside its popular Gazelle model, and is anticipating sales of up to 50,000 units per annum. From a price point of view it will be positioned somewhere between the Gazelle and the Ford Transit – which currently achieve sales of 180,000 and 3,000 units per annum respectively in Russia.

What you are looking at here is the Gaz Valdai, which could well be joining LDV’s van line-up in the not too distant future. I think they might have to give the interior a bit of attention though!
Have a read of the full news story.

Meet the OAO SeAZ van, which is apparently built in “Moscow’s largest production facility”. The scantily-clad Russian girl who told me this, also reckons it uses the same Euro 2, one-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine as their passenger-carrying siblings and are good for 150kph.
And in case you were wondering, yes it is built using “glorious working traditions of many generations”.

There was nobody on this stand to extol the virtues of the ZAZ Sens pickup, but if our understanding of the Russian sales literature is correct, it’s built in the Ukraine. And in my opinion looks like the aftermath of a crash between an old VW Caddy and Vauxhall Combo. On the subject of crashes – you wouldn’t want to experience one in this. The entire cargo area seems to be built from plastic.

Now here’s one that just rolls off the tongue – the Amyp PYC6N3HEC ABTO.
I thought the MD of Amyp was going to thump me when I dared to ask him
if the truck was going to be modernised any time soon.
“But this is new truck,” he said. “And it has new Russian-built Euro 2 engine”.

Check out the interior – how crap is this?

The Chinese are coming, and if I was a European truck maker I think I would now be nervous. The Moscow International Motor Show had countless Chinese vehicle exhibitors – and I’m quietly confident that they’ve all got their sights set on Western Europe.
One of the most successful so far is Beijing-based CV specialist Foton, which is making a big impression on the Russian market despite being founded just 11 years ago. Not only are they proving a popular alternative to locally-produced models, but they are also successfully competing with Japanese and Western European trucks.
This is the company’s motto. While the English may not be perfect, the message is loud and clear.
“The past of Foton is a march, while the future of Foton is a symphony full of power and grandeur. In this new century, a new Foton corporation of struggling for every opportunity, being keen on innovation, promising enterprising shall present itself to all the people in the world.”
There are four brands in the Foton line-up, the Auman specialising in heavy trucks. As for the model name, your guess is as good as ours.

Countless joint ventures between Chinese and Western European truck makers has resulted in a vast array of familiar looking – and sounding trucks.
The Howo uses the old FL7/10/12 cab, and is the product of an official joint venture. Allegedly it is called the Howo because that is how Volvo sounds when it is said by the Chinese.

Does the Hania look familiar to you?

And if Western European truck makers are nervous about the rapid growth in popularity of Chinese heavy trucks, any Japanese pickup truck manufacturers who visited this show would probably have needed a pair of brown trousers.
I counted close to 20 different Chinese pickups at the show, many of which appeared to be built to a very high standard.
This is one of four trucks built by the Zhejiang GoNow Automobile Company. It has clearly come a long way in the four years since its formation, but judging by that interior, it still has a hell of a lot further to go.

This is the latest truck to be launched by Chery Chinese Great Wall Motor - and is perhaps the most significant new vehicle at the show.
The Wingle is far more than just a stupid name (derived from the words ‘wind’ and ‘eagle’) as this truck is not a complete rip-off of a Japanese or American truck. Not only is it the Chinese company’s own design, but it also features a Chinese-developed Euro 3 diesel engine.

Requiring absolutely no naked flesh to attract onlookers was this ridiculous-looking
EDAG Engineering-built prototype truck. It appears to be a cross between a tree and a Mercedes-Benz Brabus R-Class.
Mercedes-Benz cars are hugely popular in the Russian capital, and I am reliably informed that there are more S-Class’s in Moscow than in the whole of Germany.

OK, it’s 7 o’clock on Friday evening as I’m writing this, and I’m very keen to get to the pub for a few pints of London Pride, so that’s why the next two captions are so much shorter! The again you probably haven’t even noticed that there are captions with these pictures!
Driving gloves appear to be almost as popular as S-Class Mercs.

I have no idea what this is, but I want one.

And I’m going to be buying a Pioneer stereo to go in it!